ARTICLES ABOUT TRAVELERS BY DATE - PAGE 5

Fewer Marylanders plan to travel during Labor Day weekend this year than last year, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. A survey by the auto club shows that travel is expected to be down 2.7 percent overall, including a drop of 0.4 percent by car and 2.9 percent by air. For all other modes - including bus, train and watercraft - the projected decline is 34.4 percent, the survey said. Eighty-nine percent of travel is expected to be done by car. The travel projections "are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight," according to a AAA Mid-Atlantic news release.

With gas prices lower now than they were in July and Labor Day approaching, area residents Wednesday talked about costs, crowds, congestion and even crime shaping their plans to travel over the holiday weekend. Dick Gaylor of Boonsboro said that he planned to stay home over the weekend because gas is still too high for him to travel. "I have a camper, and I can't afford to travel with it like I used to because gas is so high," he said. "Even though the prices have gotten a little better, it's still hard when my camper is only getting about 10 miles to the gallon.

A fire that destroyed a 36-foot camper on Gruber Road Tuesday afternoon started in the kitchen, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office. A preliminary cause of the 12:51 p.m. fire at 13118 Gruber Road was a malfunction of a refrigerator unit, the fire marshal's office said in an investigation report. The estimated loss of the 2006 Montana Keystone camper was put at $28,000, while the estimated damage to the camper's contents was $7,000, the report said. Firetrucks from the Clear Spring and Williamsport fire departments arrived on the scene around 1 p.m., extinguishing the fire by 1:20 p.m., according to Sgt. Warren Royce of the Clear Spring Fire Department.

Lynne Jackson and her husband were on their way to Deep Creek, Md., when they stopped Monday morning at the Sideling Hill Rest Area on Interstate 68 to use the restroom. The restrooms were closed, however. “We were very disappointed to find out we couldn’t use these restrooms,” she said. “We noticed on the map there are not a lot of rest areas on the way, so we were excited when we saw this one.” Jackson, who is from Camp Hill, Pa., said she decided to use a portable toilet placed at the rest stop for the convenience of travelers, instead of going to another rest stop.

With Independence Day weekend approaching, residents and visitors to Washington County talked about how gasoline prices in the area have, or haven’t, affected their travel plans this summer. Ashia Walker of Hagerstown said she was going to visit family in Virginia this weekend. She said her travel plans have not been affected at all by the price of gasoline. “Gas has actually gone down recently,” she said. “It takes a lot to fill up my truck but I’m having an easier time with it right now.” Beverly Dallaire, who was visiting Hagerstown from LaGrange, Ky, said she rented a car that would get better gas mileage during the trip.

While some people were stocking up on burgers and sparklers for July Fourth celebrations Wednesday afternoon, Randy and Pat of Hagerstown were at Advance Auto Parts on Dual Highway browsing for tires and spark plugs. They were getting their van ready for a trip to Skyline Drive in Virginia, where they planned to spend the holiday weekend relaxing in the Blue Ridge Mountains and visiting a parent’s grave, said Randy, who did not want to give his last name for fear of attracting burglars while they are out of town.

A group of about 30 children will remember to Reduce, Recycle and Re-Use after watching the Saint Luke Lutheran Tent Troupe perform for the first time in Funkstown Tuesday afternoon with its show “Once Upon A Time....” “This is our 41st year, and we started because our youth minister pastor had a great love for music, theater and circus. At that time, there were a lot of troupes, but today we are the only traveling summer tent theater,” Drama Director Roney Shawe said. The troupe, which hails from Silver Spring, Md., performed interactive singalongs at Community Park like the “Hokey Pokey” and “Peanut Butter and Jelly,” and stories that included the Chinese folktale, “Tiki Tiki Tembo,” and “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.

Thirty gallons of fuel spilled at a diesel fuel pump Monday afternoon at 11633 Greencastle Pike, Sgt. Wesley Loveless of the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway said. The incident happened at a Pilot Travel Center just off Interstate 70 at Exit 24. When firefighters arrived on the scene, Loveless said the fuel was already going down the drain at the pump. "That was good because it prevents runoff, which could cause the oil to get in the water system and the plants," he said.

The silence of Jeanette Monteith's Greencastle-Antrim Primary School classroom was suddenly interrupted Thursday by a phone ringing. "Is that Mr. Malone?" asked one of the students awaiting the arrival of their Trucker Buddy pen pal, James Malone. A number of false alarms followed until Malone entered, met the group of 20 students from kindergarten through second grade and received a round of applause befitting a visiting dignitary. "Hello, my name is Alexis. I'm 7 years old and I like to play with my horse," a student said in her introduction to Malone.